The Edward R. Murrow Collection

(New Video, 5.31.2005)

If George Clooney's surprisingly well-executed Good Night, and Good Luck left you curious to learn more about newsman extraordinaire Edward R. Murrow, this 4-disc box set is a great place to start. While this is basically just a re-packaging of a CBS video collection from the early 90s, most of this material is pretty timeless and arguably even more relevant today than it was ten years ago. The discs are featureless (okay, we get "timelines"), which is acceptable as these 4 programs include a varied and comprehensive 7 hours of material.

The most straightforward background material is provided by This Reporter, a 2-hour documentary that charts Murrow's rise and fall. Many of his closest collaborators -- including Fred Friendly, George Clooney's character in Good Night -- are on hand to discuss all the behind-the scenes drama. They also provide valuable insight into Murrow's idealistic approach to journalism and the battles he waged (and occasionally lost) against the establishment.

Most relevant to Good Night, the collection includes The McCarthy Years, a complete collection of all 4 McCarthy episodes of See It Now. In addition, we get Murrow's final retort to McCarthy and contextual introductions to each episode by one-time Murrow collaborator, Walter Cronkite.

While less directly connected to Good Night, and Good Luck, the other 2 discs offer their own rewards. In addition to The Best of See It Now (which is exactly what the title suggests), we get one of Murrow's final major achievements: Harvest of Shame, the legendary CBS documentary about struggling migrant farm workers in the United States. The film has some awkwardly bombastic moments -- ie. the title music, which is also the theme for The Edward R. Murrow Collection -- but, on the whole, this is a powerful and fascinating little film (it's less than an hour long).

The compassionate approach of Murrow and his team is far more effective than the detached, anti-advocacy strategy found in the many other news documentaries. The inclusion of casual, seemingly minor details of dialogue and behaviour is particularly effective. It's hard to believe these clips are only 50 years old, as much of this material feels likes it was shot on another planet. In 2005, (most) people just don't look or sound like this.

On the whole, this is an extremely rewarding collection that should make history purists particularly happy. Most of the material is presented in its original form without the unnecessary distraction of a modern perspective. If Murrow truly was the great man that Clooney believes he was, the evidence is all over The Edward R. Murrow Collection. -- Jonathan Doyle